Sports Time Radio

The college football playoff kicked off yesterday with Alabama beating Notre Dame 31-14. Now this result kicked off all the talk about if Notre Dame should’ve been in the college football playoff, but in all honesty; did anybody really think they where going to beat Alabama?

Believe it or not 31 points is the lowest point total that Alabama has scored in a game this season. There was a lot of complaining that a team like Texas A&M should’ve moved up to the 4th spot in the polls and then they would’ve faced off against Alabama. Well that match up already happened this season. On October 3rd 2020 Alabama beat Texas A&M 52-24. Do you really think there would be a different outcome had they met again yesterday? There was also some talk that Cincinnati should’ve been ranked higher in the polls since they where undefeated. However yesterday they lost to an SEC team (Georgia) and I know it took a long field goal with time running out to beat Cincinnati, but a loss is still a loss no matter how it happens. Do you really think Cincinnati had a chance to stay with a team like Alabama?

Now the second college football playoff game had some intrigue coming into it. Clemson coach Dabo Sweeney ranked Ohio State 11th in his final coaches poll ballot and you had to wonder if this would provide some motivation for the #3 ranked Buckeyes as they faced Sweeney and the #2 ranked Clemson Tigers.

Apparently Sweeney’s lower ranking did help Ohio State as they easily beat the Tigers to move on to the college football championship game with a 49-28 win.

It looked like it was going to be a close game to start as at the end of the 1st quarter we had a 14-14 tie, but Ohio State took off after that. Clemson was unable to score in the 2nd quarter while Ohio State put the football in the end zone three times and went in at halftime with a 35-14 lead. Clemson needed to find a way to get back in the game, but all they did in the second half was trade touchdown with Ohio State. Each team scored a touchdown in the 3rd quarter and a touchdown in the 4th quarter. That meant Clemson was unable to make up any ground and Ohio State would be the team moving on to face Alabama in the college football championship game.

Now there was some complaining about Ohio State being in the Top 4 because they only played five regular season games, but they seemed to prove they belonged here with tis win over Clemson. Now there wasn’t as much complaining about Ohio State as there was about Notre Dame, but there are always going to be people who are unhappy about which four teams get into the college football playoff. Unfortunately there’s probably no solution for that.

I understand that when you’re favorite college football team has a great year you want to see them given a chance to win a championship, but you have to remember that they do this playoffs for television ratings and money. As fun as it would be to see a Cincinnati or a Coastal Carolina; how many people would tune in to watch them play a team like Alabama? Also which team is going to get more support; one of those teams or a team like Notre Dame? I get it, but it’s just the way it works. It’s really not about who the best college football teams are; it’s about which teams can get people to turn that game on with all the other viewing options out there.

I know there are some people out there who think that expanded the field to eight teams would solve a lot of these issues, but would they? Just imagine if you’re the 9th ranked team in the polls. How much complaining is there going to be that you belong in the field instead of one of the teams that got in the Top 8? It’s just the way it goes. Don’t forget that even though the NCAA basketball tournament takes 68 teams into it’s field there is always some complaining about a team or two that doesn’t get into the tournament.

I’m sure a lot of the complaints have to do with just general fandom and that’s a good thing. It’s good to see fans that root hard for their favorite team and want to see them get rewarded for a good season and it’s difficult to deal with it when they’re not given what you think they deserve. Hopefully it doesn’t stop anyone from rooting for their favorite team and they’ll stay passionate about those teams and continue to complain when they feel their team has been wronged.

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